What is a Habit, How do They Work and How Can I Change Them?

If you nodded your head – well done (awareness is the first step to change). Habits are quite often learnt and therefore can be changed (although sometimes your need to be persistent and many habits are on autopilot).

What is a Habit?

Habit –

“are routines of behavior that are repeated regularly and tend to occur subconsciously” – according to Wikipedia

How Do Habits Work?

First there is a trigger or cue (e.g. location, time of day, emotional state, thought, belief, other people or a pattern of behaviour)…

which then triggers a routine (i.e. ask yourself what triggers the behaviour itself), and

then you get the reward you want (identify what reward is driving your habit – maybe what are you craving or averting?)

How Can I Change a Habit?

Identify the habit you want to change/break.

Identify the trigger/cue of this habit.

Identify the routine of this habit.

Identify the reward you are getting from this habit (i.e. what are you craving or averting?).

Once you have identified the trigger/cue, routine and reward of the habits you are wanting to change, then you can consciously choose a different behaviour. However, remember it can take some time to change your habits, so be kind to yourself!

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